The pearls of the Balkans, a few hours in Romania. Places of Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria ideal for car holidays

Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece offer spectacular destinations, accessible by car, ideal for short holidays. Romanian tourists are attracted by landscapes, good prices and local hospitality in Bulgărești resorts, historical cities in Turkey and Greek beaches.

The car trips offer more flexibility in choosing the program and luggage, they are more comfortable for many Romanians, and stops on the route can become part of the holidays. A few hours from the cities of Romania, tourists can explore the impressive historical places in Turkey, relax on the beaches of Greece and Bulgaria or discover the hospitality and the Balkan tradition, from which the Romanians have kept some roots.

Bulgarian coast, a few hours of Bucharest

Bulgaria is often praised by Romanians for landscapes and resorts on the Black Sea coast. Tourists are attracted here by accessible prices, compared to other European countries, and appreciate local hospitality.

The distance between Bucharest and the resorts on the Bulgarian coast (Balchik, Albena, Golden Sands) is 250–300 kilometers, depending on the chosen route.

A popular route is Bucharest – Giurgiu – Ruse – Varna – Litoral, where among the expenses are the bridge tax from Giurgiu -Ruse, of about 14 lei, and the road tax (vignette) from Bulgaria. The second route frequented by Romanians traveling to the Bulgarian coast is Bucharest – Vama Veche – Durankulak – coast.

The roads to Bulgaria can be traveled in three to five hours, depending on the destination, the crowds on the road and the period of travel.

One of the most recommended destinations for car trips to Bulgaria is Balcic, a city on the seafront, known for Queen Maria’s Castle and Royal Gardens. Tourists can also visit Sozopol, also on the sea, a city compared to Sighișoara for its historical charm, but on the coast.

“Sozopol is a great place to spend some time. I come here for 10 years, at the end of May – the beginning of June, even when the city begins to prepare for the tourist season. Then it is quite quiet, which suits me – I imagine that in the season it is very animated and full of holiday atmosphere. of water / overlooking the old city, the more expensive they tend to be (but much cheaper than in the UK) ”describes a British tourist, Tripadvisor.

About three hours of car in Bucharest, the city of Veliko Tarnovo, a former medieval settlement in Bulgaria, is among the places sought by tourists. Some described him as an outdoor museum, dominated by the Tsarevets Fortress.

Istanbul, the tourist pearl of the Balkans

More distant than the tourist cities of Bulgaria, the Istanbul metropolis and the old Ottoman capital Edirne are two of the Turkish tourist pearls, where the Romanians can arrive by car, at the end of a half -day trip, started from Bucharest.

Former capital of two empires, the city of Istanbul is about 650 kilometers from Bucharest, and a trip between the two cities can take between 9 and 12 hours, depending on traffic and customs agglomeration. The classic route chosen by tourists is Bucharest – Giurgiu – Ruse – Razgrad – Târgoviște – Yambol – Lesovo – Edirne – Istanbul.

Travelers must ensure that they have the passport on them, the valid car insurance, the vignette for Bulgaria and the Turkish road tax. Istanbul offers numerous opportunities for hikers. His most popular attractions are historical places, such as Hagia Sophia – former Byzantine cathedral, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace – the former Palace of the Ottoman Sultans, located in the center of the city (Sultanahmet area), but also Bosphorus bazaars and cruises.

“The prices in Sultanahmet were much lower than at home (I am from Belgium, Antwerp). I and my girlfriend are just students, so I didn’t take a lot of money with us. I lived like a king with 550 euros for 7 days, although I had a budget of 850 euros (including drinks, food, hook,” He reports, on Reddit, a Belgian tourist who visited the historical center in Istanbul.

Near Bucharest, the city of Edirne (also known as Adrianopol) – and he was former Ottoman capital – is sought by tourists for his bazaars, but also for his historical goals. The road of about 530 kilometers follows the Bucharest – Giurgiu – Ruse – Veliko Tarnovo – Haskovo – Svilengrad – Edirne and can be traveled in 7-8 hours.

On platforms such as Tripadvisor and Reddit, tourists who visited Turkey offer useful tips for those who plan a trip. Recommendations include the use of public transport, very efficient in big cities such as Istanbul, avoiding street exchange and preferring card payments.

In religious areas, tourists are advised to respect local habits, and in bazaars, price negotiation is encouraged. Many also recommend exploring local cuisine and Turkish tea, a tradition of hospitality.

Roads to the beaches of Greece

Greece offers Romanians who want to visit a lot of accessible destinations, with spectacular landscapes and beaches, ancient ruins and authentic Greek villages.

Located at 750-800 kilometers from Bucharest, at the end of a road that can be traveled in 9–10 hours, the Halkidiki peninsula, with its three arms – Kassandra, Sithonia and Athos – can be an ideal destination for a mini -vacation or even for an extended weekend. The most lively resorts are on the western arm, Kassandra, known for its beaches, while the central arm, Sithonia, is wilder and quieter.

Athos is dedicated largely to the monastic life, but its monasteries can be admired from the sea during the cruises that surround the peninsula. The recommended route for this trip is: Bucharest – Giurgiu – Ruse – Veliko Tarnovo – Stara Zagora – Svilengrad – Kulata – Saloniki – Halkidiki.

Thassos, holiday destination for Romanians

Closer to the capital of Romania, the island of Thassos is also one of the favorite destinations of Romanians traveling by car.

The road of approximately 600 kilometers can be traveled in 9–10 hours, on the route Bucharest – Giurgiu – Ruse – Veliko Tarnovo – Stara Zagora – Haskovo – Svilengrad – Ormenio – Keramoti – Thassos port, the last part of the route being made with Feribot. Thassos is famous for its beaches, but also for the historical and cultural attractions, such as the Archangel Mihail or Panagia village.

“It is close to Romania, perfect for a car holiday,” It describes a Romanian on Reddit. However, other Romanian tourists point out that, in the season, the island can become too crowded for their tastes.

Further from Thassos, the Greek island Lefkada is about 1,000 kilometers from Romania, but it remains a favorite destination, appreciated for its beaches. A bridge binds it to the continent, which makes it easily accessible by car. Some tourists describe it as a true jewel of the Ionian Sea.

“The western beaches of the island are truly impressive, due to the color of water and spectacular landscapes, dominated by steep rocks and huge rocks. Many of them are more difficult, because the roads are very narrow, with numerous tight streams and slopes (but they are asphalted). He writes a visitor on the blog Omiesiunadecalatorii.

Travel tips in Greece

Other tourists have noticed the difficulty of accessing some beaches, higher prices and the fact that many beaches have gravel instead of fine sand.

Those who have traveled by car to Greece recommends enthusiasts to plan their journey in advance, taking into account the necessary documents – such as the vignette for the transit of Bulgaria – and the road taxes in Greece.

The road can be long, so many suggest rest stops or even an intermediate night, especially for those traveling with children.